Home / Reptiles / Lizards / Jackson's chameleon
Some federal rules applyJackson's chameleon
Trioceros jacksonii
Reptiles › Lizards (Lacertilia) › Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons)
Jackson's chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii), also known commonly as Jackson's horned chameleon, the three-horned chameleon, and the Kikuyu three-horned chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae.
Care at a glance
Species-specific values
Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.
| Basking zone temperature | 83 °F Source does not unambiguously distinguish air from branch surface; excludes cooler merumontanum. | 219 |
| Shade air temperature | 68–72 °F ReptiFiles common Jackson subspecies regime. | 219 |
| Night air temperature | 50–59 °F ReptiFiles; retain separately from VCA 60–75 F. | 219 |
| Basking zone temperature | 79 °F T. j. merumontanum only; measurement type unspecified. | 219 |
| Shade air temperature | 64–68 °F T. j. merumontanum only. | 219 |
| Night air temperature | max exclusive: 59 °F T. j. merumontanum only. | 219 |
| Day relative humidity | 30 % Approximate daytime target, with a drying interval. | 220 |
| Night relative humidity | up to 100 % Nighttime peak, not a constant daytime target. | 220 |
| Drinking water delivery | Provide clean droplets on foliage through misting or a dripper; fog alone does not supply droplets. | 220 |
| Day air temperature | 70–80 °F VCA range; separate from ReptiFiles shaded/basking targets. | 222 |
| Night air temperature | 60–75 °F VCA; disagreement with ReptiFiles retained. | 222 |
Care guide
Chameleons
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Tropical and montane forests. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Screen or hybrid enclosures with lots of live plants and branches; good airflow.
- Daily misting or a dripper; chameleons rarely drink from bowls.
- Montane species (Jackson's, Meller's) need cooler temperatures than veiled or panther chameleons.
Climate & lighting
Starting point only: Jackson and panther day/night regimes differ; VCA and RF also disagree and must remain separate. Check the species-specific values for this animal where shown.
| Basking spot | 85–95°F |
| Warm side / daytime | 75–85°F |
| Cool side | 65–75°F |
| Humidity | 50–80% |
- UVB: Required.
Diet
- Gut-loaded insects dusted with calcium and multivitamins on a schedule.
Social life
- Solitary; even seeing another chameleon can stress them.
Handling
- Minimal handling; they're display animals.
Health watch
- Dehydration, MBD, eye problems and stress from handling or seeing other chameleons.
- House singly.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
The species is native to East Africa, and introduced to Hawaii, Florida, and California. There are three recognized subspecies.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Jackson's chameleon” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
Researched for this exact species, not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Mountain forest and thickets in Kenya and Tanzania. It uses trees and dense vegetation for hunting, concealment and drinking. |
| Ground it lives on | Arboreal; rarely on the ground. |
| Climate | East African montane habitat; numerical wild temperature and humidity ranges were not established. |
| Active | Diurnal, including morning basking before hunting. |
| Social life | Solitary and territorial, especially males. |
| Wild diet | Mainly insects and spiders. |
| Behavior to plan for | It catches prey with a rapidly projected tongue and laps water droplets from leaves. Males display and fight with their horns, sometimes pushing rivals off branches. |
What this means for care
- Provide leafy branches and droplets on foliage for drinking.
- House separately with visual barriers between males.
- Include accessible morning basking and sheltered retreats.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 80°F (up to 84°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 59°F (down to 46°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 58–74°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 72–81% on average (driest month about 75%) |
| Rainfall | about 1584 mm a year, spread fairly evenly |
Measured at 48 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
Profile
Profile
Researched for this exact species. Sources are listed under In the wild above.
Keeper tips
- Provide abundant branches and foliage.
- Avoid chronically high temperatures.
- House adults individually.
- Offer appropriately sized live invertebrates.
- Provide opportunities to drink from water droplets on vegetation.
Behaviors reported
- Captures prey with a rapidly projected tongue.
- Moves its eyes independently while searching.
- Changes coloration in social and environmental contexts.
Unique adaptations
- Opposing toe groups grip narrow branches.
- A prehensile tail provides additional support.
- Independently movable eyes permit a wide visual field.
- The projectile tongue allows prey capture at a distance.
Remarkable facts
- Males characteristically bear three prominent facial horns.
- The species is native to East Africa.
- Introduced populations occur outside its native range.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Jackson's chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii), also known commonly as Jackson's horned chameleon, the three-horned chameleon, and the Kikuyu three-horned chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is native to East Africa, and introduced to Hawaii, Florida, and California. There are three recognized subspecies. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Jackson's chameleon is an arboreal lizard. It is native to woodlands and wet forests at altitudes of 1600 to 2440 m in south-central Kenya and northern Tanzania. In these areas, the rainfall is seasonal but exceeds 127 cm per year. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Wild diet | Jackson's chameleon lives primarily on a diet of small insects. It also preys on centipedes, isopods, millipedes, spiders, lizards, small birds, and snails; in Hawaii, where it was introduced, it also eats endangered tree snails (Achatinella mustelina). It is considered to be a cruise forager, as it forages on the go instead of laying in wait. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | Most chameleons are oviparous, but Jackson's chameleon and several other highland species in the genus Trioceros are ovoviviparous, giving birth to offspring soon after they are ready to hatch from their egg sac; eight to thirty live young are born after a five- to six-month gestation. The subspecies T. j. merumontanus gives birth to five to ten live young. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Appearance and size | Diagnosis (merumontanus). — The Reptile Database |
| History and naming | Named after the collector of the Holotype specimen, Mr. — The Reptile Database |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Maximum recorded lifespan
Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter. The AnAge record comes from an animal in human care.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Gestation
Daytime air temperature
Species-specific values from keeper care sheets. Basking figures are often surface readings taken with an infrared thermometer, which run hotter than air.
Humidity
Species-specific values from keeper care sheets. Basking figures are often surface readings taken with an infrared thermometer, which run hotter than air.
Basking spot
Species-specific values from keeper care sheets. Basking figures are often surface readings taken with an infrared thermometer, which run hotter than air.
Night temperature
Species-specific values from keeper care sheets. Basking figures are often surface readings taken with an infrared thermometer, which run hotter than air.
Care articles for this species
Care articles for this species
- Jackson’s Chameleon Care Sheet (Reptiles Magazine)
- Environmental Enrichment: Decorating Your Jackson’s Chameleon Enclosure (ReptiFiles)
- Jackson’s Chameleon Enclosure Size Guidelines (ReptiFiles)
- Jackson’s Chameleon Care (ReptiFiles)
- Expert Tips On Keeping The Jackson's Chameleon (Reptiles Magazine)
- Jackson’s Chameleon Breeding (Reptiles Magazine)
Veterinary & husbandry research
Veterinary & husbandry research
- Evaluation of the Sex and Species Distribution, Breeding, and Life Expectancy of Zoo-Housed Chameleons Aduriz A et al., Zoo biology 2026
Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. 170
Sources for this sheet
- AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources) Peer-reviewed researchCurated, referenced longevity and life-history records for thousands of species; maximum lifespans are often from zoo animals.
- Myhrvold et al. (2015). An amniote life-history database. Ecology 96: 3109 Peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed compilation of life-history data for over 21,000 birds, mammals and reptiles.
- Reptiles Magazine (care articles) Experienced keeper or breederEstablished reptile and amphibian hobby magazine; care articles are written by breeders, keepers and veterinarians.
- ReptiFiles (care guides) Experienced keeper or breederWell-researched reptile care guides that cite herpetological literature and experienced keepers.
- Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and the CITES Secretariat) Zoo, university or veterinaryThe official database of species listed under CITES.
- USFWS International Affairs: CITES Zoo, university or veterinaryFederal agency that issues CITES permits.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management and husbandry of reptiles Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional, metabolic and endocrine diseases of reptiles Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Royal Veterinary College Exotics Service: Veiled chameleon care Zoo, university or veterinaryVet-school exotics hospital factsheet, reviewed 2021–2024.
- Royal Veterinary College Exotics Service: Panther chameleon care Zoo, university or veterinaryVet-school exotics hospital factsheet, reviewed 2021–2024.
- ReptiFiles: Jackson's chameleon lighting and temperatures Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- ReptiFiles: Jackson's chameleon humidity and water Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- ReptiFiles: Panther chameleon care sheet Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Care and Housing for Chameleons Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Clint's Reptiles (YouTube): Jackson's Chameleon, The Best Pet Lizard? Expert educator & keeperClint Laidlaw, PhD in Biology Education and MS in Evolutionary Ecology; owner of Clint's Reptile Room and a longtime keeper. His "Best Pet?" series reviews each species' care in depth.
- The Reptile Database Peer-reviewed researchScientist-curated catalog of every reptile species, with taxonomy and literature.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
